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Ezra 5:1 King James Version with Strong's Concordance (STRONG)

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1 Then the prophets, H5029 Haggai H2292 the prophet, H5029 and Zechariah H2148 the son H1247 of Iddo, H5714 prophesied H5013 unto H5922 the Jews H3062 that were in Judah H3061 and Jerusalem H3390 in the name H8036 of the God H426 of Israel, H3479 even unto H5922 them.

Cross Reference

Zechariah 4:6-10 STRONG

KJV ASV YLT DARBY WEB BBE

Then he answered H6030 and spake H559 unto me, saying, H559 This is the word H1697 of the LORD H3068 unto Zerubbabel, H2216 saying, H559 Not by might, H2428 nor by power, H3581 but by my spirit, H7307 saith H559 the LORD H3068 of hosts. H6635 Who art thou, O great H1419 mountain? H2022 before H6440 Zerubbabel H2216 thou shalt become a plain: H4334 and he shall bring forth H3318 the headstone H68 H7222 thereof with shoutings, H8663 crying, Grace, H2580 grace H2580 unto it. Moreover the word H1697 of the LORD H3068 came unto me, saying, H559 The hands H3027 of Zerubbabel H2216 have laid the foundation H3245 of this house; H1004 his hands H3027 shall also finish H1214 it; and thou shalt know H3045 that the LORD H3068 of hosts H6635 hath sent H7971 me unto you. For who hath despised H936 the day H3117 of small things? H6996 for they shall rejoice, H8055 and shall see H7200 the plummet H68 H913 in the hand H3027 of Zerubbabel H2216 with those seven; H7651 they are the eyes H5869 of the LORD, H3068 which run to and fro H7751 through the whole earth. H776

Micah 5:4 STRONG

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And he shall stand H5975 and feed H7462 in the strength H5797 of the LORD, H3068 in the majesty H1347 of the name H8034 of the LORD H3068 his God; H430 and they shall abide: H3427 for now shall he be great H1431 unto the ends H657 of the earth. H776

Zechariah 1:1-21 STRONG

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In the eighth H8066 month, H2320 in the second H8147 year H8141 of Darius, H1867 came the word H1697 of the LORD H3068 unto Zechariah, H2148 the son H1121 of Berechiah, H1296 the son H1121 of Iddo H5714 the prophet, H5030 saying, H559 The LORD H3068 hath been sore H7110 displeased H7107 with your fathers. H1 Therefore say H559 thou unto them, Thus saith H559 the LORD H3068 of hosts; H6635 Turn H7725 ye unto me, saith H5002 the LORD H3068 of hosts, H6635 and I will turn H7725 unto you, saith H559 the LORD H3068 of hosts. H6635 Be ye not as your fathers, H1 unto whom the former H7223 prophets H5030 have cried, H7121 saying, H559 Thus saith H559 the LORD H3068 of hosts; H6635 Turn H7725 ye now from your evil H7451 ways, H1870 and from your evil H7451 doings: H4611 but they did not hear, H8085 nor hearken H7181 unto me, saith H5002 the LORD. H3068 Your fathers, H1 where are they? and the prophets, H5030 do they live H2421 for ever? H5769 But my words H1697 and my statutes, H2706 which I commanded H6680 my servants H5650 the prophets, H5030 did they not take hold H5381 of your fathers? H1 and they returned H7725 and said, H559 Like as the LORD H3068 of hosts H6635 thought H2161 to do H6213 unto us, according to our ways, H1870 and according to our doings, H4611 so hath he dealt H6213 with us. Upon the four H702 and twentieth H6242 day H3117 of the eleventh H6249 H6240 month, H2320 which is the month H2320 Sebat, H7627 in the second H8147 year H8141 of Darius, H1867 came the word H1697 of the LORD H3068 unto Zechariah, H2148 the son H1121 of Berechiah, H1296 the son H1121 of Iddo H5714 the prophet, H5030 saying, H559 I saw H7200 by night, H3915 and behold a man H376 riding H7392 upon a red H122 horse, H5483 and he stood H5975 among the myrtle trees H1918 that were in the bottom; H4699 and behind H310 him were there red H122 horses, H5483 speckled, H8320 and white. H3836 Then said H559 I, O my lord, H113 what are these? And the angel H4397 that talked H1696 with me said H559 unto me, I will shew H7200 thee what these be. And the man H376 that stood H5975 among the myrtle trees H1918 answered H6030 and said, H559 These are they whom the LORD H3068 hath sent H7971 to walk H1980 to and fro through the earth. H776 And they answered H6030 the angel H4397 of the LORD H3068 that stood H5975 among the myrtle trees, H1918 and said, H559 We have walked to and fro H1980 through the earth, H776 and, behold, all the earth H776 sitteth still, H3427 and is at rest. H8252 Then the angel H4397 of the LORD H3068 answered H6030 and said, H559 O LORD H3068 of hosts, H6635 how long wilt thou not have mercy H7355 on Jerusalem H3389 and on the cities H5892 of Judah, H3063 against which thou hast had indignation H2194 these threescore and ten H7657 years? H8141 And the LORD H3068 answered H6030 the angel H4397 that talked H1696 with me with good H2896 words H1697 and comfortable H5150 words. H1697 So the angel H4397 that communed H1696 with me said H559 unto me, Cry H7121 thou, saying, H559 Thus saith H559 the LORD H3068 of hosts; H6635 I am jealous H7065 for Jerusalem H3389 and for Zion H6726 with a great H1419 jealousy. H7068 And I am very H1419 sore H7110 displeased H7107 with the heathen H1471 that are at ease: H7600 for I was but a little H4592 displeased, H7107 and they helped H5826 forward the affliction. H7451 Therefore thus saith H559 the LORD; H3068 I am returned H7725 to Jerusalem H3389 with mercies: H7356 my house H1004 shall be built H1129 in it, saith H5002 the LORD H3068 of hosts, H6635 and a line H6957 H6961 shall be stretched forth H5186 upon Jerusalem. H3389 Cry H7121 yet, saying, H559 Thus saith H559 the LORD H3068 of hosts; H6635 My cities H5892 through prosperity H2896 shall yet be spread abroad; H6327 and the LORD H3068 shall yet comfort H5162 Zion, H6726 and shall yet choose H977 Jerusalem. H3389 Then lifted I up H5375 mine eyes, H5869 and saw, H7200 and behold four H702 horns. H7161 And I said H559 unto the angel H4397 that talked H1696 with me, What be these? And he answered H559 me, These are the horns H7161 which have scattered H2219 Judah, H3063 Israel, H3478 and Jerusalem. H3389 And the LORD H3068 shewed H7200 me four H702 carpenters. H2796 Then said H559 I, What come H935 these to do? H6213 And he spake, H559 saying, H559 These are the horns H7161 which have scattered H2219 Judah, H3063 so that H6310 no man H376 did lift up H5375 his head: H7218 but these are come H935 to fray H2729 them, to cast out H3034 the horns H7161 of the Gentiles, H1471 which lifted up H5375 their horn H7161 over the land H776 of Judah H3063 to scatter H2219 it.

Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Matthew Henry Commentary » Commentary on Ezra 5

Commentary on Ezra 5 Matthew Henry Commentary

John Gill   Keil & Delitzsch   Robert Jamieson: Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible  

Chapter 5

We left the temple-work at a full stop; but, being God's work, it shall be revived, and here we have an account of the reviving of it. It was hindered by might and power, but it was set a-going again "by the Spirit of the Lord of hosts.' Now here we are told how that blessed Spirit,

  • I. Warmed its cool-hearted friends and excited them to built (v. 1, 2).
  • II. Cooled its hot-headed enemies, and brought them to better tempers; for, though they secretly disliked the work as much as those in the foregoing chapter, yet,
    • 1. They were more mild towards the builders (v. 3-5).
    • 2. They were more fair in their representation of the matter to the king, of which we have here an account (v. 6-17).

Ezr 5:1-2

Some reckon that the building of the temple was suspended for only nine years; I am willing to believe that fifteen years were the utmost. During this time they had an altar and a tabernacle, which no doubt they made use of. When we cannot do what we would we must do what we can in the service of God, and be sorry we can do no better. But the counsellors that were hired to hinder the work (ch. 4:5) told them, and perhaps with a pretence to inspiration, that the time had not come for the building of the temple (Hag. 1:2), urging that it was long ere the time came for the building of Solomon's temple; and thus the people were made easy in their own ceiled houses, while God's house lay waste. Now here we are told how life was put into that good cause which seemed to lie dead.

  • I. They had two good ministers, who, in God's name, earnestly persuaded them to put the wheel of business in motion again. Observe,
    • 1. Who these ministers were, namely, the prophets Haggai and Zechariah, who both began to prophesy in the second year of Darius, as appears, Hag. 1:1; Zec. 1:1. Note,
      • (1.) The temple of God among men is to be built by prophecy, not by secular force (that often hinders it, but seldom furthers it), but by the word of God. As the weapons of our warfare, so the instruments of our building, are not carnal, but spiritual, and they are the ministers of the gospel that are the master-builders.
      • (2.) It is the business of God's prophets to stir up God's people to that which is good, and to help them in it, to strengthen their hands, and, by suitable considerations fetched from the word of God, to quicken them to their duty and encourage them in it.
      • (3.) It is a sign that God has mercy in store for a people when he raises up prophets among them to be their helpers in the way and work of God, their guides, overseers, and rulers.
    • 2. To whom they were sent. They prophesied unto the Jews (for, as to them pertained the giving of the law, so also the gift of prophecy, and therefore they are called the children of the prophets, Acts 3:25, because they were educated under their tuition and instruction), even unto them, upon them, even upon them (so it is in the original), as Ezekiel prophesied upon the dry bones, that they might live, Eze. 37:4. They prophesied against them (so bishop Patrick), for they reproved them because they did not build the temple. The word of God, if it be not received now as a testimony to us, will be received now as a testimony to us, will be received another day as a testimony against us, and will judge us.
    • 3. Who sent them. They prophesied in the name, or (as some read it) in the cause, or for the sake, of the God of Israel; they spoke by commission from him, and argued from his authority over them, his interest in them, and the concern of his glory among them.
  • II. They had two good magistrates, who were forward and active in this work. Zerubbabel their chief prince, and Jeshua their chief priest, v. 2. Those that are in places of dignity and power ought with their dignity to put honour upon and with their power to put life into every good work: thus it becomes those that preceded, and those that preside, with an exemplary care and zeal to fulfil all righteousness and to go before in a good work. These great men thought it no disparagement to them, but a happiness, to be taught and prescribed to by the prophets of the Lord, and were glad of their help in reviving this good work. Read the first chapter of the prophecy of Haggai here (for that is the best comment on these two verses) and see what great things God does by his word, which he magnifies above all his name, and by his Spirit working with it.

Ezr 5:3-17

We have here,

  • I. The cognizance which their neighbours soon took of the reviving of this good work. A jealous eye, it seems, they had upon them, and no sooner did the Spirit of God stir up the friends of the temple to appear for it than the evil spirit stirred up its enemies to appear against it. While the people built and ceiled their own houses their enemies gave them no molestation (Hag. 1:4), though the king's order was to put a stop to the building of the city (ch. 4:21); but when they fell to work again at the temple then the alarm was taken, and all heads were at work to hinder them, v. 3, 4. The adversaries are here named: Tatnai and Shethar-boznai. The governors we read of (ch. 4) were, it is probable, displaced at the beginning of this reign, as is usual. It is the policy of princes often to change their deputies, proconsuls, and rulers of provinces. These, though real enemies to the building of the temple, were men of better temper than the other, and made some conscience of telling truth. If all men have not faith (2 Th. 3:2), it is well some have, and a sense of honour. The church's enemies are not all equally wicked and unreasonable. The historian begins to relate what passed between the builders and those inquisitors (v. 3, 4), but breaks off his account, and refers to the ensuing copy of the letter they sent to the king, where the same appears more fully and at large, which he began to abridge (v. 4), or make an extract out of, though, upon second thoughts, he inserted the whole.
  • II. The care which the divine Providence took of this good work (v. 5): The eye of their God was upon the elders of the Jews, who were active in the work, so that their enemies could not cause them to cease, as they would have done, till the matter came to Darius. They desired they would only cease till they had instructions from the king about it. But they would not so much as yield them that, for the eye of God was upon them, even their God. And,
    • 1. That baffled their enemies, infatuated and enfeebled them, and protected the builders from their malicious designs. While we are employed in God's work we are taken under his special protection; his eye is upon us for good, seven eyes upon one stone in his temple; see Zec. 3:9; 4:10.
    • 2. That quickened them. The elders of the Jews saw the eye of God upon them, to observe what they did and own them in what they did well, and then they had courage enough to face their enemies and to go on vigorously with their work, notwithstanding all the opposition they met with. our eye upon God, observing his eye upon us, will keep us to our duty and encourage us in it when the difficulties are ever so discouraging.
  • III. The account they sent to the king of this matter, in which we may observe,
    • 1. How fully the elders of the Jews gave the Samaritans an account of their proceedings. They, finding them both busy and prosperous, that all hands were at work to run up this building and that it went on rapidly, put these questions to them:-"By what authority do you do these things, and who gave you that authority? Who set you to work? Have you that which will bear you out?' To this they answered that they had sufficient warrant to do what they did; for,
      • (1.) "We are the servants of the God of heaven and earth. The God we worship is not a local deity, and therefore we cannot be charged with making a faction, or setting up a sect, in building this temple to his honour: but we pay our homage to a God on whom the whole creation depends, and therefore ought to be protected and assisted by all and hindered by none.' It is the wisdom as well as duty of kings to countenance the servants of the God of heaven.
      • (2.) "We have a prescription to this house; it was built for the honour of our God by Solomon many ages ago. It is no novel invention of our own; we are but raising the foundations of many generations,' Isa. 58:12.
      • (3.) "It was to punish us for our sins that we were, for a time, put out of the possession of this house; not because the gods of the nations had prevailed against our God, but because we had provoked him (v. 12), for which he delivered us and our temple into the hands of the king of Babylon, but never intended thereby to put a final period to our religion. We were only suspended for a time, not deprived for ever.'
      • (4.) "We have the royal decree of Cyrus to justify us and bear us out in what we do. He not only permitted and allowed us, but charged and commanded us to build this house (v. 13), and to build it in its place (v. 15), the same place where it had stood before.' He ordered this, not only in compassion to the Jews, but in veneration of their God, saying, He is the God. He also delivered the vessels of the temple to one whom he entrusted to see them restored to their ancient place and use, v. 14. And they had these to show in confirmation of what they alleged.
      • (5.) "The building was begun according to this order as soon as ever we had returned, so that we have not forfeited the benefit of the order for want of pursuing it in time; still it has been in building, but, because we have met with opposition, it is not finished.' But, observe, they mention not the falsehood and malice of the former governors, nor make any complaint of them, though they had cause enough, to teach us not to render bitterness for bitterness, nor the most just reproach for that which is most unjust, but to think it enough if we can obtain fair treatment for the future, without an invidious reference to former injuries, v. 16. This is the account they give of their proceedings, not asking what authority they had to examine them, nor upbraiding them with their idolatry, and superstitions, and medley religion. Let us learn hence with meekness and fear to give a reason of the hope that is in us (1 Pt. 3:15), rightly to understand, and then readily to declare, what we do in God's service and why we do it.
    • 2. How fairly the Samaritans represented this to the king.
      • (1.) They called the temple at Jerusalem the house of the great God (v. 8); for though the Samaritans, as it should seem, had yet gods many and lords many, they owned the God of Israel to be the great God, who is above all gods. "It is the house of the great God, and therefore we dare not oppose the building of it without orders from thee.'
      • (2.) They told him truly what was done, not stating, as their predecessors did, that they were fortifying the city as if they intended war, but only that they were rearing the temple as those that intended worship, v. 8.
      • (3.) They fully represented their plea, told him what they had to say for themselves, and were willing that the cause should be set in a true light.
      • (4.) They left it to the king to consult the records whether Cyrus had indeed made such a decree, and then to give directions as he should think fit, v. 17. We have reason to think that if Artaxerxes, in the foregoing chapter, had had the Jews' cause as fairly represented to him as it was here to Darius, he would not have ordered the work to be hindered. God's people could not be persecuted if they were not belied, could not be baited if they were not dressed up in bears' skins. Let but the cause of God and truth be fairly stated, and fairly heard, and it will keep its ground.